To independent and undecided voters

It’s no easy task for many Americans to decide on their presidential candidate. All the information is out there but the truth is hard to find when it’s mixed in with so many lies. No, there haven’t been more lies during this campaign and it’s hasn’t been nastier than any other in our history. Political campaigns, especially at the national level, are always fraught with dirty dealings, misinformation, defamation and sordid tricks designed to confuse, and at the same time, woo the unsuspecting.

Campaign 2012 is no different. Yet as our country becomes more polarized on ideology, campaign managers are forced to focus their messaging toward independent and undecided voters. If polls are to be believed, we are becoming more evenly split on the great issues of the day. Can the federal government curb our out-of-control national debt with more spending programs and higher taxes, or, should spending and taxes be cut to unleash the power of the private sector? Should the country move toward progressive social indulgences of gay marriages, abortion, casual drug usage, or, continue to embrace conservative moral tenets? Will we continue to increase entitlement programs for medical, unemployment and retirement benefits, or, encourage individual choice and award for accomplishment? Do we drill and frack our way now to energy independence, or, bet billions of dollars on long-term alternative technologies? Should we continue to work closely with the United Nations and toward global consensus, or, will we assert our sovereignty and duty to protect our national interests?

If the above were the questions on the ballot, could independent and undecided voters figure out which candidate and party to endorse? If not, they should stay home on Nov. 6.

If you’re not yet registered to vote, forget it. If you’re one of those folks who plans on making up your mind in the voting booth, forget it. If you are going to vote for a candidate because that’s who your parents like, forget it. If you’re going to vote because of the color of the candidate’s skin, forget it. If you think it’s all BS and your vote doesn’t really matter, fine — stay home.

On the other hand, if you are truly a concerned American and want your vote to count, yet for some reason are still on the edge, don’t give up. The stakes make it worth your while to dig a little deeper. Everybody has their spin so check Fox against CNN, The New York Times against The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times against The Washington Post. Answer the big questions in your mind and forget the sideshows: Birth certificates and binders of women’s resumes, “47 percent” and “You didn’t build that,” golf vacations versus off-shore accounts — they are all distractions.

Patriots do not consider voting to be a right or a privilege — they believe it is an obligation and a duty. The free republic that is America can only survive if enough patriots engage and make an informed choice, hiring the right people to represent the best interest of the country. Patriots know their self-interests take second place.

Time is running short for independents and undecideds — step up or step aside.